To fans, readers and friends I've not yet made — it breaks my heart that I can't do a physical tour for this book, but some of the finest writers in the world will be joining me for virtual events. I hope you can join me for one or more of them!
Head to the link below for additional information on each event, as well as the links to RSVP.
It’s a strange thing, the genesis of a novel. Some ideas stick. Others don’t. Years ago, I read the story of Hugh Thompson, Jr., a helicopter pilot serving in Vietnam who, along with his crew, Glenn Andreotta and Lawrence Colburn, were instrumental in stopping what’s come to be known as the Mai Lai Massacre. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of their heroism, you might want check it out – an act of exceptional morality backlit by what most consider the worst atrocity of the entire conflict. Having been too young to serve in Vietnam, I would never presume to write a story of that actual war, but the idea of courage regardless of cost has been with me for a very long time.
In beginning this novel, I had little desire to write of Mai Lai, itself - the massacre was too real, too horrible, and I feared I could not do justice to those who’d died there. But my feelings about Thompson and his crew were too strong to ignore. On a bad day in March of 1968 they put themselves between a company of poorly-led, war-mad American troops intent on murdering an entire village of innocent South Vietnamese civilians. In taking that extraordinary risk, Thompson and his crew saved untold lives and paid an entirely unjust cost. There was a cover-up to hide the atrocity; Thompson and his crew were vilified.
In 1969 , though, Seymour Hersh broke the story of the massacre and coverup, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize the following year. After that came criminal charges, a trial, and national outrage. Even so, it took thirty years for Thompson and his crew to receive the recognition they deserved. When at last they were awarded the Soldier’s Medal (The U.S. Army’s highest award for bravery not involving direct contact with the enemy) then Major-General Michael Ackerman described their actions at Mai Lai, saying, “It was the ability to do the right thing even at the risk of their personal safety that guided these soldiers to do what they did … [They] set the standard for all soldiers to follow.” That kind of courage inspired this novel and the character of Jason French, who may be one of the best I’ve ever written.
All that being said, this is not a novel about the Vietnam War – I was three years old when 500 men, women and children were slaughtered at Mai Lai. THE UNWILLING, instead, is the story of an American city in 1972, of young men who served and died, and those who grew to manhood in fear of the draft. It’s a story of courage and sacrifice, of families and girlfriends and the difficult truth that horrible acts are not relegated to war, alone, that a more grotesque evil might linger just down the street.
I’ve always wanted to set a novel in the past – an entirely unique challenge – and to recreate the world I remember from childhood (no cellphones or computers). It made sense, too, to set this book at a time when our country felt equally torn, partly because tension like that makes for good storytelling, but also to celebrate that we’ve lived through hard times before – been equally divided - and that brighter days come when people act in good faith. More profoundly, I wanted to speak to the unchanging nature of humanity, the good and bad of us all. People often mistake my intent, believing I write dark, when that’s not entirely true. Instead, I write about the search for light in dark places. That means building rich, flawed characters and then turning up the heat to see what choices they’ll make as the softness around them cooks away. Wartime or peace, at home or on the dim streets of a midnight city, it’s what humanity is about, how we handle love and hope, fear and loss, the enduring questions that confront us each generation, to do the right thing or the wrong, rise or fall, sacrifice or surrender.
That seems like a big target, but it’s an easy one to miss. In fact, every novel I write begins with a sense of almost unbearable risk – people do read these things - but I’m pleased how this one turned out - a thriller to its core – and love the way C.J. Box reacted after an early read, describing THE UNWILLING as “…somehow raw, tender, brutal and exquisite – all at the same time.” As strange as it may sound, that’s exactly the kind of book I set out to write. I hope you enjoy it.
Writing a novel is full of great moments: the first sentence and the final page, the last edits and the parts that make me proud. There are some not-great moments, too, the sleeplessness and indecision, the long, lingering doubts. Eventually, the book will come to market and the readers will decide if I’ve ill-spent a year of my life (or two years, or three…). In-between, though, is a kind of dead zone—the book is out of my hands, the publishers are hard at work. A lot of what they’re doing I won’t see for a long time. We still have seven months before the book is released. (That’s June 23rd for those who keep track…)
Even in this quiet zone, though, there are some pretty awesome moments, and the best is when I see the cover for the first time. After all, it is the book’s face! In terms of quiet-zone great moments, a close second is sharing that cover with my readers and getting those first reactions. So, here it is: THE UNWILLING.
On Inspiration…
I remember when John Grisham exploded onto the scene, and THE FIRM went huge. I was thinking about law school, and a family member gave me a copy of the book, saying I should read it. I did, and I loved it. The whole country loved it. Of course, John’s career took off after that (rightly so), and it was amazing to watch. A number one book every year. All those great movies.
No offense to my lawyer friends, but I never much liked being an attorney. I suspected as much in graduate school, which is when I wrote two spectacularly unpublished novels. Once in practice, I was a criminal law guy, which gave me about a hundred reasons to hate the job. Killers. Rapists. That sort of thing.
And there was John, just kicking it.
I think every lawyer in the world was envious. Fame and money? Sure. No more guilty clients? That sounded good, too. Watching John take off like a rocket is what gave me the spine to write yet another novel. That third effort became THE KING OF LIES, and changed my life; but that’s another, much longer story.
The point is that writing is hard to do, and making a living at it is even harder. We can all use a reason to hope and strive, to accept the sometimes-massive sacrifice of time, energy and peace-of-mind. To even try for success means risk, sweat and pain - because you’ve got to put it all on the page, heart and soul. Every writer who’s finished a manuscript knows what I’m talking about. For that kind of dream-chasing it’s good to have a little inspiration. For some, it’s the idea of fame or money, or simply proving to the world that you can do it. I’ll admit to having had all of those things in my heart.
But there was also John. And watching him storm the beaches of this difficult, unforgiving industry, watching him commit and deliver book after book was the most impressive thing, and, to my mind, the ultimate expression of personal freedom, the way he built that life, just carved it out of pure imagination. We’re friends, now. We live in the same town, and hang out with other writer types, drinking wine and talking books. John likes to say I stalked him all the way to Charlottesville. My reply, invariably, is that he’s worn that joke to a nub; but there are these small truths behind it. First, that I might not have been here without his example – and that we all need such examples. Second, that it’s good to meet your heroes, to say Thank you, face to face; that it’s even better to be friends.
So, this writing life did not turn out as I expected.
I was prepared for the isolation, having braced myself – after years as an attorney and stockbroker - for an utter lack of co-workers, colleagues and clients. It would be a lonesome life, but I was willing to make the sacrifice. What I didn’t think about so much were the actual readers. I wanted to reach them, of course. Sharing is the whole point! What I did not anticipate was the passion readers would bring to the other side of the equation, that willing and welcome response. And I hear from them so often - thoughtful, intuitive readers hungry for more of what I love to do, but also for insight and connection, not just to the writing, but to the writer and the writing life. And I get it. Writing is solitary, and publishing, opaque. What sells? Why do people respond to one book and not another? And just where do those stories come from?
As an innately private person, I've always thought that words alone were enough to share; but time changes all things, myself included, and I’ve met so many wonderful readers over the years that I’ve decided to share more of myself than just the stories. That means photographs on Instagram and Facebook, my thoughts in a newsletter, feedback to readers, a more engaged website…
A lot of writers do this, but for me this is a new commitment: to be here for those who choose to spend their time my books and the characters I’ve created. So this is it, my first real outreach to those who have found their way to my writing. I hope you stick around, and that we can enjoy this stuff together. If that sounds like fun, come find me on whatever platform you prefer…
https://www.facebook.com/johnhartauthor/
https://www.instagram.com/johnhartauthor/
https://twitter.com/JohnHartAuthor
PS – You received this note because, once upon a time, you signed up for my Newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, I won’t take it personally.
Author John Hart celebrates the launch of his latest book - The Hush - with a special event honoring the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Hart & fellow author John Grisham have a frank - & funny - conversation about books & writing with host DG Martin. This special event was filmed in front of a live audience at Meymandi Hall in Raleigh.
RALEIGH — They both studied economics, were once attorneys, and are now known for their wildly entertaining novels that thrill audiences around the world. But what also connects John Hart and John Grisham are their ties to the Tar Heel state. Hart was born and raised in North Carolina, and Grisham lives there part time, and so the two are joining forces in Raleigh for "Thrillers! An evening with Authors John Grisham and John Hart".
Hart sat down with Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair, for a look at his new book, The Hush, the continuation story of a character, Johnny Merrimon, that brought him acclaim. Grisham meanwhile, recently released his newest book, The Rooster Bar, and Camino’s Island, also based in North Carolina last year.
The dynamic duo are meeting face to face with their readers on Friday, Feb. 23 at Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. The VIP meet-and-greet is sold out, but tickets to the 7:30pm conversation are still available. All tickets will include a signed copy of Harts new book. Proceeds from the event benefit the Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
New York Times bestselling author John Hart, who grew up in Salisbury, is not afraid to take risks — including those with high stakes.
In fact, he seems to thrive on these risks. For instance, he gave up his job as a stockbroker about 15 years ago to complete his first literary thriller. That risk-taking paid off when his book, “The King of Lies,” became a Times bestseller in 2006. Three other successes followed: ”Down River,” in 2007, ”The Last Child” in 2009, and ”Iron House” in 2011.
Season 1800 Episode 1813 | 26m 46s
Author John Hart's latest book is a thriller about a town on the edge. Weaving together the stories of a young boy, a troubled detective, a good cop, & an abandoned church deep in the woods, Redemption Road is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on edge from the very beginning.
